Apparatus for controlling type-writing machines.



No. 787,875. PATENTED APR. 18. 1905. P. G. OREED. APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED 001. 12, 1903.

6 BHEETB-SHEET 1.

No. 787,875. PATENTED APR. 18,1905. F. e. 01mm. APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.12,1903.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED APR. 18, 1905.

F. G. OREED. APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.12,1903.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3,

PATENTED APR. 18, 1905.

F. G. GREED.

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OOT. 12,1903.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

PATENTED APR. 18, 1905.

APPLICATION FILED 001. 12,1903.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

ooooowoo oo Patented April 18, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

FREDERICK GEORGE GREED, OF LICNZIE, SCOTLAND, ASSIGNOR TO HIM- SELF, AND WILLIAM ARTHUR COULSON, OF MILE END, GLASG-OlV,

SCOTLA ND.

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING TYPE-WRITING MACHINES..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 787,875, dated April 18, 1905.

Application filed October 12,1903. Serial No. 176,663.

Be it known that I, FREDERICK (inouen CREED, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Lenzie, in the county of Dumbarton, Scotland, have invented Improvements in or Relating to Apparatus for Controlling 'lype\\"'riting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

It has heretofore been proposed to repro- IO duce in ordinary printed characters telegraphic messages received in the form of perforations in a tape by causing the perforated tape to pass through apparatus (hereinafter called for distinction a translating-machinc) 5 that is provided with a type-writer-controlling device comprising a number of notched bars or combs (hereinafter called combs) arranged parallel to one another and capable of reciprocating in the direction of their length, the position of the said combs, and consequently the operation of the type-writing apparatus, being controlled by or dependent upon the position of the perforations in the tape, which is moved in an intermittent manner through 5 the translating-machine by the engagement of a feed-wheel with a central row of accurately-spaced feel-holes previously formcdin the tape. In apparatus of this class it has heretofore been considered necessary to di- 3 vide the perforated tape into a series of successive longitudinal sections of equal length, Each representing a letter or character and divided into a predetermined number and arrangement of elemental parts, with one or more of which the perforations are to coincide, so that the telegraphic code necessarily adopted with such a machine is ditferentfrom that used in the \Yheatstone-Morse and other automatic systems of telegraphy now in com- 4 men use, in which the portions of punched tape representing different letters or other characters (hereinafter included in the term letters") are of different length and are separated by spaces that are of equal length between letters and of greater length between words. Consequently such a translating-machine cannot be used in connection with a typc-wrlteror prlntmg mechanism for reproducing in ordinary printed characters telegraphic messages from such tape.

Now this invention has for object to obviate this disadvantage, and it relates to means or apparatus whereby \Vhcatstone or other similar perforated telegraphic tape punched according to the Morse or any other similar system can be fed forward to successive extents corresponding to the punched portions of tape representing each successive letter togcther with the corresponding space --that is to say, the blank portion of tape of unit length that separates the letter from the next letter in the same word and which is hereinafter included in the term lette1" whether such punched portions of tape be of different or equal lengths. By unit length is meant 5 the pitch of the feed-holes in the tape. The perforations representing letters may be at one or at each side of the row of feed-holes, each perforation or pair of perforations being transversely opposite to one of the feed-holes. 7 In a machine or apparatus for the purpose mentionedconstructed according to this invention there is provided in connection with a tape-guiding device, a tape-feeding device, and driving mechanism feed-operating mechanism that is driven from the driving mechanism and engages the feeding device and I the extent of the feeding movement of which is variable and is controlled or determined by means(hereinafter called the selecting $0 mechanism) the action of which is dependent upon the positions in the successive portions of tape of the perforations and spaces rep-- resenting successive letters, the arrangement being such that when the said machine or ap- 5 paratus is in operation the tape will be automatically fed forward in an intermittent manner to an extent dependent upon the length of each successive letter, whether the length of the letters be variable or not. Such a ma- 9 chine or apparatus can be used in conjunction with known or other suit-able mechanism for controlling or operating, through the medium of punched tape, type-writing or type-see ting or type-casting mechanism and is specially suitable for rapidly reproducing in ordinary printed characters telegraphic messages punched according to the lVheatstone-Morse system of automatic telegraphy.

As will be obvious, a machine orapparatus to operate in the manner and for the purpose set forth can be constructed in various forms.

In the accompanying illustrative drawings, Figure 1 shows in front elevation, and Fig. 2 in plan, apparatus constructed according to this invention for the purpose set forth, some of the parts in each figure being omitted for the sake of clearness. Fig. 3 is avertical section corresponding to the line A A of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a vertical section corresponding to the line B B of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a side view of the tape-guiding device. Figs. 6 and 7 show in side view a pair of combs. Figs. 8 and 9 are elevations at right angles to one another, showing a feed-lever and adjacent parts. Fig. 10 is a detail view showing a piece of Wheatstone-Morse tape, such as is used in automatic telegraphy. Fig. 11 is a detail view showing a modification. Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view.

a a are pairs of parallel combs of the kind hereinbefore referred to that form part of mechanism for operating or controlling typewriting, type-setting, or type-casting mechanism. These combs are adapted to be moved endwise by the action of unperforated*z'. 6., blanl-portions of each successive letter in the tape I), which is moved toward and from the adjacent and pointed ends 0 and (Z of the pairs of combs at the required time by a tapeguiding device 6, carried, it may be, by an u pwardly-extending lever or pair of levers, as heretofore, or, as in the example, by a plate f, that is caused to reciprocate at the required times by the engagement of a roller 9 thereon with a cam-groove IL in a disk 70, fixed on a driving-shaft m, adapted to be operated by hand or by a motor. In connection with a tape-feeding device, such as feed-wheel a, there is provided a two-armed lever 0 that is yielding] y connected to rotary driving mechanism, such as hereinafter described, and one arm of whichviz., o is geared to the tapefeeding device 11 so as to operate the samein one direction only, and the other end of which viz. p-is geared to a suitably-guided sliding bar or feeler Q, (hereinafter called the exploring-bar,) the extent of movement of which in one direction viz. the backward or operative direction is determined by one or other of a series of stops 0, (hereinafter called for distinction back-stops,) forming part of the selecting mechanism, and the position of which is determined by the arrangement of the perforations s and spaces 6 in the tape 6, Fig. 10. The two-armed lever 0 19 may be driven from a lever (hereinafter called for distinction the feed-lever) through a leverarm and a spring that will yield and allow the two-armed lever and exploring-bar q to come to rest before the feed-lever has completed its stroke in the operative direction, but will positively return the said two-armed lever and exploring-bar to their original positions when the feed-lever makes its return stroke. In the example shown the lever 0 p is fixed to a vertical shaft a, mounted in bearings at 2), Fig. 1, and provided with a toothed wheel w, into which gears an endwise-movable rack 1, that is connected at its ends to a pair of similar lever-arms 2 and 3. The lever-arm 2 is mounted to turn upon a spindle 4, upon which is fixed a feed-lever 5, provided with an antifriction-roller 5, that engages arotary cam 6 on the driving-shaft m. The feed-lever 5 and lever-arm 2 may be connected together by a spring that will admit of the lever-arm 2 and attached parts being driven from the feed-lever, but which will yield to allow of the lever 0 p and attached parts coming to rest when necessary before the feed-lever has completed its stroke in the direction of the arrow :0, Fig. 1, as hereinbefore described. It is, however, preferred to fix to the spindle 4:, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the inner end of a coiled spring 7, the outer end of which is connected to the lever-arm 2, and also to fix upon the spindle 1 the lower end of a spring-blade 8, the upper end of which terminates in front of a horizontal pin 9 on the lever-arm 2, the arrangement being suchthat when the feed-lever 5 is moved by the cam 6 in the direction of the arrow .7: the spring 7 will move the lever-arm 2 in the same direction and cause the rack 1 to turn the lever 0 p in the direction of the arrow y, Fig. 2, until it is arrested by a back-stop r, the feed-lever 5, with spring-blade 8, then completing its stroke idly, and upon the feed-lever 5 being moved in the reverse direction the spring-blade 8, by acting upon the pin 9, will move back the lever 2 and attached parts to their normal position, in which they will be held by the pressure of the said spring-blade. Each end of the two-armed lever 0 79 may convenien tly be provided with a toothed segment, that-viz., l0-at one end gearing with a toothed wheel 11, adapted to drive in one di rection only,as through ratchet or clutch mechanism, the feed-wheel n. which is provided with pins or teeth or, arranged to engage in the central row of feed-holes 13 in the tape 6. In the example the wheel 11 is fixed on a sleeve 11", that carries a spring-pawl 12, Figs. 1 and 2, which engages a ratchet-wheel 12*, fixed to the spindle 12", that carries the feed-wheel n. The toothed segment 14 at the other end of the said lever 0 gears directly into a rack 15 on the exploring-bar q.

The back-stops 9', which are equal in number to the greatest possible number of spaces occupied by the perforations s, Fig. 10, in a letter, (ten in the case of Wheatstone-Morse tape,) are arranged parallel to one another and so as to be capable of moving transversely in astationary support or carrier 16 and across a longitudinal guideway 17, through which the exploring-bar [7 works and which is arranged parallel and opposite to the tape-guidingdevice w. The latter device comprises a pair of longitudinal plates arranged in a vertical or approximately vertical plane and having between them a vertical race 19, along which the tape is fed on edge, as heretofore. Extending hm'izontally through the said pair of plates are two longitudinal rows of holes 20, (see Fig. 5,) arranged to be at opposite sides of the central row of feed-holes 13 in the tape 7), the said horizontal holes being arranged in vertical pairs having the same pitch in a longitudinal direction as the pitch of the said feed-holes. \Vhen working with Wheatstone-BIorse tape, there will be ten vertical pairs of holes, as shown. Each of the back-stops w is adapted to be moved by a spring 21 across the longitudinal guideway 17, the arrangement being such that when the foremost back-stop is across the guideway the exploring-bar I] can then only move into the guideway to a distance that will enable the two-arm lover I p on its return or feed stroke to feed the tape forward to an extent eorre-spoiuiling to the length of the space between two successive letters. Corresponding to each backstop '1 are two selector-bars 22, arranged one above the other in the same vertical plane and between the tape-guiding device w and the backstop support or carrier 16. The inner ends 23 of each pair of selector-bars 22 are rounded and arranged to enter and be guided by one of the vertical pairs of holes 24) in the pair of longitudinal plates comprising the tape-guiding device If, the outer ends of each pair of selector-bars being formed with inwardlyturned projections 24;, that take behind corresponding projections 25 at the inner end or head of the corresponding back-stop r. The adjacent inner ends r and (I of the pairs of combs u of the type-writer actuating or controlling device, which are arranged at the other side of and at a short distance from the tape-guiding device 1 are rounded and similarly arranged in vertical pairs corresponding to the pairs of holes 20 in the tape-guiding device. For this purpose one of the ends viz., of the combs a of each pair thereof is bent sidewise, so as to come into the same vertical plane as the end 0 of the other comb of the pair. Each of the selector-bars 22 connected by a coiled spring 26 to a lixed frame or support 28, through which the bar 22 works and by,which it may be guided, the said spring 26 tending to move the selector-bar inward to a limited extent toward the tape 1) and withdraw the corresponding back-stop '1' from across the longitudinal guideway 17 against the action of its spring 21. The strength of the springs 21 and 26 is such that either of the selector-springs 26 can overcome the spring 21 of the corresponding back-stop when free to do so. The extent of inward movement of the selector-bar: 22 may be determined by the abutment of a shoulder 29 on each of such bars against a stop 2? on the fixed frame orsupport 28. The extent of inward movement of each comb u may be determined by a longitudinal fixed bar 11 that serves as a stop for a shoulder a on each comb. Each comb a is also formed with a shoulder u for a purpose hereinafter described.

As the length of the letters to be translated may vary, means are provided for forcing back all the combs a of the type-writer actuating or controlling device which correspond to the portion of tape following that occupied by the letter being translatedthat is to say, to produce on the combs the effect of blank tape in the said following portion. For this purpose there may be arranged between the tape-guiding device e and the set of combs u, as in the example shown, a longitudinal bar or plate 30, (hereinafter called for distinction a shutter,) that is arranged to be operated from the tape-feeding mechanism, as through a longitudinal rack-bar 31, in such a way that it will be moved backward simultaneously with and to an equal extent as the exploringbar 19, and therefore to an extent depending upon the length of the letter to be translated. The said shutter 30 is arranged to be. moved sidewise by the tape-guiding device and to act upon and move the combs endwise., the arrangement being such that the shutter will displace the combs endwise at the same moment that they would have been displaced by blank tape. For this purpose the shutter 30 is in the example arranged to slide endwise in a guideway e in the device 1 and to abut against the shoulders (1, Figs. 3, (3, and T, on those combs I! that are opposite to it and move back such combs. The normal or forward position of the said shutter 30 is such that if oscillated by the tape-guiding device I when in that position it would displace all the combs u endwise. When operated by the lover I) p from the feed-lever, as described, it will clear those combs opposite the letter to be translated, so as to allow the perforations of that letter to have their normal effect upon such combs.

To preventbackward inovementof the feedwheel/1 during the idle stroke of the twoarm lever 0 there is provided means, such as a V-shaped centering-tooth 32, Fig. 11, adapted to enter the V-shaped space between any two teeth of a wheel 33, fixed to the feedwhcel a and having the same number of teeth as that wheel, or a roller 34, Fig. 2, adapted to pass between any two of the feed-pins nou the feed-wheel u, may be used for a like purpose. The said centering-tooth 32 or roller 3a may be carried by a spring-arm 35, that will permit of its yielding to allow of the toothed wheel 33 and feed-wheel 12, or feed-wheel only, being positively driven in the forward direction.

36 and 37 are adjustable stops to limit the forward movement of the exploring-barqand the shutter operating bar 31. The stop 36 is preferablyarranged to limit the forward movement of the lever-arm p and attached parts that operate the said exploring-bar, so as to relieve such bar to a large extent of the shock resulting from the stoppage of the said arm. The stop 37 is arranged to directly limit the forward motion of the bar 31. This bar may conveniently be in the form of a rack that gears with and is driven by the toothed wheel 11, with which it is held in gear by a guideroller 38, carried by a fixed support 39, Figs. 1 and 2. To allow of the lateral motion of the shutter 30 with the tape-guiding device a without moving the bar 31 laterally and without materially affecting the proper position of the shutter by reason of the lateral movement, the shutter may be connected to the bar 31 by a spring-blade 31, Fig. 2. A fixed back-stop 4:0 is provided to arrest the backward movement of the exploring-bar (1 when all the back-stops may have been withdrawn by the letter about to be translated. A guide-roller 38, Figs. 1 and 2, carried bya fixed support 39, is provided to keep the rack on the outer end of the exploring-bar q in gear with the toothed segment 14.

The working of the apparatus is as follows: Assuming a perforated tape 7) to have been passed through the tape-guiding device a and engaged with the feed-wheel n, that the feedwheel is held at rest by the abutment of the arm p of the lever 0 2) against the stop 36 and by the engagement of the centering-tooth 32 or roller 34 with its toothed wheel 33 or feedwheel a, as the case may be, that the tapeguiding device 6 is in its normal or mid p0- sition--that is to say, is holding the tape 6 clear of the pins 23 on the selecting-bars 22 on one side and the pins 0 and (Z of the combs a on the other side that the selector-bars 22, back-stops 7', and combs a are in their inner positions toward the tape Z), and that the translated letter has been fed forward and a new one brought into position, to be translated by the movement of the two-arm lever 0 p to its normal position, limited by the stop 36, then the first feed-hole 13 in the portion of tape 6, representing the new letter, will have been brought to a point midway between or in the vertical plane of the foremost vertical pair of holes in the tape-guiding device 0. The tape-oscillating device 6 is now operated by the cam-groove 7L and roller g to move the tape toward the pins 23 of the selector-bars 22, so that those bars corresponding in position to the perforations representing the letter will not be operated upon, but that pair of selector-bars corresponding to the space included in the letter about to be translated will be moved outward by the blank tape and will permit the corresponding back-stop 9' to be moved by its spring 21 across the longitudinal guideway 17. The feed-lever 5 is then operated by the cam in a direction to cause the two-armed lever 0 p to move idly with respect to the feed-wheel n, but to cause the exploring-bar q to move backward into the longitudinal guideway 17 to an extent that is limited by its abutment against the first back-stop 9, extending across the guideway, and which therefore corresponds to the length of the letter being dealt with, the said feedlever completing its stroke without affecting the said lever 0 10, while the said exploringbar g and also the shutter-bar 31 and shutter 30, which have been moved back to an equal distance, are held at rest by the said back-stop 7'. To prevent the back-stop being prematurely drawn back, it may be formed with a hole, into which a pin on the end of the exploring-bar then takes. While the two-armed lever 0 p, exploring-bar q, and shutter-bar 31, with shutter 30, are thus held in their backward positions the tape-guiding device 0, together with the shutter 30, are moved toward the pins 0 and cl on the combs a, displacing all that are opposite to blank spaces in the letter, and are opposite the shutter and allowing those which correspond to the perforations s in the letter to remain in their inner position. The rearrangement of the combs 0 thus pro duced permits the printing or type-setting machine to be operated to print or reproduce the letter. The tape-guiding device a is now moved back by the cam-groove 7b to its midposition, whereupon the feed-lever 5 is moved in the opposite direction to cause the twoarmed lever 0 p to operate the feed-Wheel n and feed the tape, with the letter just translated, forward and bring a new letter 'into position to be translated and to return the exploring-bar q and shutter to their forward positions against their stops 36 and 37. During this movement the centering-tooth 32 or roller 34 is either withdrawn from its toothed wheel 33 or feed-wheel n or, as in the example, is forced to ride over the teeth of the wheel, which it will reengage when the movement is completed. The combs a are moved back into their normal position in the usual way before the tape-guiding device a is again moved toward them. The above-described operations are then repeated.

The comb a, the mechanism actuated or controlled thereby, and the type-writing, typesetting, or other mechanism to be used therewith for reproducing in ordinary characters the letters punched in the tape may be of any known or suitable construction. In the example shown the combs a are formed with a series of notches 41, (see Figs. 6 and 7,) and across them extend a series of bars 42, that are kept parallel to each other by a pair of combs 13, through which they can work endwise. Each bar 42 is jointed at its outer end to one arm, 44:, of a bell-crank lever pivoted at 45 to the frame 46 of the machine and the other arm, at. of which may be connected, as indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 12, to a key-lever i8 for actuating, as through a link 49, the corresponding type-arm of a type-writing machine, the paper-cylinder of which is indicated at 51. The bars 42 are pulled downward by springs 52 onto the combs u. the recesses L in which are so formed and arranged as to produce differentcombinations for the different letters to be reproduced and so that when some of the combs are pushed outward by blank portions of tape some of the recesses in the several combs will come opposite each other, so that the particular cross-bar l2 corresponding to the letter being translated will be allowed to fall into thejuxtaposed recesses, and thereby bring it into the path of an oscillating bar 53, which will move the said cross-bar l2 endwise and operate the typeavriting or other mechanism, as above indicated, in a known manner. The combs are pressed inward by wire springs 54:, Fig. The oscillating bar 53 is fixed to and oscillated by the upper arms of bellcrank levers carried by a pivoted rod and the other arms, 55, of which are arranged to be acted upon by cams 57 on the drivingshaft 11/. The return of the combs displaced by blank portions of tape is insured by a bellcrank lever 58, pivoted at 59 and operated by a cam 60 on the driving-shaft 1/1. Each crossbar 42 and attached parts are returned to their normal position when relieved of the pressure of the oscillating bar by a spring 4A". Each cross-bar 4:2 after falling into a juxtaposed set of recesses 4E1 in the combs is lifted out of the recesses by a lifting-bar 61, that is alternately raised and lowered by cams (52 on the driving-shaft 11/, acting through levers 63 and downward extensions 6% of the liftingbar, which are guided by links 65. One of the cross-bars say 42, Fig. 3 serves as a spacing-bar to actuate the spacing mechanism of the typeavriting or other machine when a blank portion of tape or a blank portion of 'tape and the shutter 30 displace all the combs u endwise. Other bars may be used in the same way for other special movements of the printing mechanism.

Apparatus according to this invention can be used with perforated tape of various kinds, whether such tape be telegraphic tape or tape punched directly by a perforating-machine worked by hand or otherwise and not intended for telegraphic purposes.

As will be obvious, the details of construction can be variously modified without departing from the essential features of the invention.

'hat I claim is- 1. ln apparatus foroperatingor controlling mechanism for reproducing or translating into ordinary characters information that is in the form of perforations in a tape, a tape-feeding device the extent of whose successive feeding movements is capable of variation, and mechanism for determining the amount of such feeding movement, said mechanism being controlled by the perforated tape.

.2. In apparatus fol-operating or controlling mechanism for reproducing or translating into ordinary characters information that is in the form of perforations in a tape, a tape-feeding device, mechanism for actuating said feeding device, and means for determining the extent of movement of said actuating mechanism and consequently of the feeding device and the action of which is dependent upon the position in the successive portions of tape of the perforations and spaces representing successive letters.

3. .ln apparatus foroperatingor controlling mechanism for reproducingor translating into ordinary characters information that is in the form of perforations in a tape, a tape-feeding device. feeding mechanism having a variable motion and adapted to drive said tape-feeding device in a forward direction, and selecting mechanism adapted to determine the extent of movement of the feeding mechanism and tape-feeding device and the action of which is also variable and dependent upon the position in the successive portions of tape of the perforations and spaces representing successive letters.

i. In apparatus for operating or controlling mechanism for reproducing or translating into ordinary characters information that is in the form of perforations in a tape, a tapefeeding device, feeding mechanism for actuating said feeding device in one direction, means for moving said actuating mechanism alternately in opposite directions, and adjustable means under the control of the perforated tape for causing the extent of successive backward movements of the feeding mechanism to correspond to the length of successive letters in the tape.

5. 1n apparatus for operating or controlling mechanism for reproducingor translating into ordinarycharacters information that is in the form of perforations in a tape, a tape-feeding device, means for actuating said feeding device and the tape engaged thereforth in a forward direction, and a series of stops corresponding to different lengths of letters in the tape and adapted to determine the extent of successive feeding movements of the said feeding device and tape, the particular stop used for determining the extent of each feeding.

movement being arranged to be selected by the portion of tape containing the corresponding letter to be reproduced or translated.

b. In apparatus for-operating or controlling mechanism for reproducing or translating into ordinary characters information that is in the form of perforations in a tape, a tape-feeding device, feeding mechanism whereby said feeding device can be moved in a forward direction but not in a backward direction, driving means for moving said feeding mechanisn alternately in opposite directions, a yielding device arranged between the driving means and the feeding mechanism and adapted to permit of said mechanism, when moved in one direction, coming to rest before the driving means has completed its movement in the corresponding direction, a series of stops corresponding to different lengths of letters in a perforated tape and the positions of which are controlled by the tape, and means arranged to be operated by the feeding mechanism and the extent of movement of which and of said mechanism in a backward direction, is determined by that stop of the series that is selected by the tape and corresponds to the length of the letter about to be reproduced or translated.

7. Apparatus of the kind herein referred to for operating or controlling type-writing, type-setting, or type-casting mechanism by means of perforated tape, wherein the intermittent feeding movement of the tape is controlled by selecting mechanism comprising a number of movable stops, and a number of pairs of selector-bars so arranged that when the portion of tape representing the letter about to be translated is moved laterally relatively to the pairs of selector-bars, that pair of selector-bars corresponding in position to the space included in the said letter will be moved by the blank tape and will permit the corresponding movable stop to determine the extent to which the tape will be fed forward at the next feeding operation.

8. In apparatus for operating or controlling type-writing, type-setting, or type-casting mechanism by means of perforated tape, the combination with means for actuating or controlling the type-writing or type-setting mechanism and adapted to be operated by lateral movement of the tape, a laterally-movable tape-guiding device, a tape-feeding device, and driving mechanism, of feed operating mechanism that is driven from the driving mechanism and engages the feeding device and the extent of movement of which is variable, and selecting mechanism for controlling or determining the movement of the feedoperating mechanism and the action of which is also capable of variation and is dependent upon the position in the successive portions of tape of the perforations and spaces representing successive letters.

9. In apparatusof the kind herein referred to for reproducing letters from perforated tape, the combination with a series of endwise-movable combs such as described for actuating or controlling mechanism for reproducing letters, a laterally-movable tape-guiding device, and means for operating such device, of a tape-feeding device, feed-operating mechanism, means for actuating said mechanism, and an exploring-bar connected to the feed-operating mechanism and selecting mecl anism.

10. In apparatus of the kind herein referred to wherein combs arranged to be moved end wise by blank portions of tape are used to actuate or control type-writing, type-setting, or type-casting mechanism,the combination with the said combs, a laterally-movable tape-guiding device and variable tape-feeding mechanism as set forth, of means such as a longitudinal bar or plate carried by the tape-feeding device and operated from the variable tapefeeding mechanism in such a manner that it will be moved backward to an extent depending upon the length of the letter to be translated and will force back all the combs corresponding to the portion of tape following that occupied by the letter being translated so as to produce on such combs the effect of blank tape in the said following portion of tape.

11. In apparatus for operating or controlling mechanism for reproducing or translating into ordinary characters information that is in the form of perforations in a tape, a tapefceding device, feeding mechanism arranged to be moved alternately in backward and forward directions and to move said feeding device in a forward direction only, driving means for said feeding mechanism, a series of stops controlled by the perforated tape and adapted to limit the backward movement of the feeding mechanism to an extent dependent upon the length of the letter to be translated, and a yielding connection between the feeding mechanism and driving means and whereby the feeding mechanism can be brought to rest by the selected stop before the driving means has completed its stroke.

12. In apparatus for operating or controlling mechanism for reproducing or translating into ordinary characters information that is in the form of perforations in a tape, a tapefeeding device, feeding mechanism adapted to move said tape-feeding device in a forward direction only, an exploring device connected to said feeding mechanism and moved thereby, drivingmeans for said feeding mechanism,

a yielding connection between said feeding mechanism and driving means, a series of movable stops corresponding to letters of different lengths and arranged to limit the extent of movement of said exploring device and feeding mechanism in one direztion, and means under the control of the tape for causing the stop corresponding to the letter about to be reproduced or translated to become operative to limit the movement of the exploringbar.

13. In apparatus for operating or controlling mechanism for reproducing or translating into ordinary characters information that is in the form of perforations in a tape, a tapefeeding device, feeding mechanism for intermittently moving said device in a forward direction, a tape-guiding device, means for moving thesamesidewise,andselecting mechanism comprising a number of movable stops adapt- ICC ed to limit the extent of backward movement of the feeding mechanism, and a number of pairs of selectorbars arranged so that when the portion of tape representing the letter about to be translated is moved laterally by said tapeguiding device relatively to the pairs of selector-bars, that pair of selector-bars corresponding in position to the space included in the said letter, will be moved by the blank tape and will permit the corresponding movable stop to determine, through the feeding mechanism, the extent of forward motion of the feeding device.

17k. in apparatus for reproducing or translating into ordinary characters, information that is in the form of perforations in a tape, the combination with means for operating or controlling a type-writing, type-setting or other machine for the dissemination of information. aml the action of which is governed by lateral movement of the tape, a laterallymovable tapeguiding device, a tape-feeding device, and driving mechanism, of feeding mechanism driven from the driving mechanism and engaging the feeding device and the extent of movement of which is variable, and selecting mechanism arranged to be actuated by movement of the tape relatively thereto and whereby the extent of movement of the feeding mechanism is made dependent upon the position in the successive portions of tape of the perforations and spaces representing successive letters.

15. In apparatus for reproducing or translating into ordinary characters, information that is in the form of perforations in a tape, the combination with a plurality of assembling devices for actuating or controlling mechanism for reproducing letters, a laterally-movable tape-guiding device, and means for operating said device, of a tape-feeding device, feed-operating mechanism, means for actuating said mechanism alternately in opposite directions, an exploring-bar connected to the feedoperating mechanism, and selecting mechanism comprising a number of pairs of selecttmbars arranged to be operated by blank portions of the tape when the same is moved laterally toward the same, and a number of stops arranged one behind the other and adapted to come into the path of the exploring-bar, each stop being controlled by a pair of selector-bars.

16. in apparatus for reproducing or translating into ordinary characters, information that is in the form of perforations in a tape, the combination of a plurality of controlling devices the relative positions of which are determined by the perforations and blank spaces representing each letter in the tape and which control mechanism for reproducing each letter, tape-feeding mechanism adapted to intermittently move the tape forward to variable extents depemling upon the lengths of successive letters in the tape, and a device arranged to be operated in unison with the tape'feeding mechanism and to move backward at each operation to an extent depending upon the length of the letter about to be translated so as to uncover only the portion of the tape containing that letter and to cover the next succeeding letter or letters and have the effect of blank tape on the controlling devices.

17. In apparatus for reproducing or translating into ordinary characters, information that is in the form of perforations in a tape, the combination of a series of controlling devices arranged side by side and adapted to control the action of mechanism for producing ordinary characters, selecting mcchanism comprising a series of pairs of selector-bars and stops controlled by said bars, a tape-guiding device arranged between said controlling devices and selector-bars and means for moving it sidewise relatively to said devices and bars and causing a rearrangement thereof for the purposes set forth, a feed-wheel adapted to engage the tape extending through said tapegniding device, a clutch device for rotating said feed-wheel in a forward direction only, an exploring-bar arranged to work in a guideway across which said steps can extend, a levcr connected to said exploring-bar and clutch device, means for oscillating said lever, driving mechanism, and a yieldingconnection be tween said oscillating means and driving mechanism.

18. In apparatus for reproducing or translating into ordinary characters, information that is in the form of perforations in a tape, the combination of a series of controlling devices arranged side by side and adapted to control the action of mechanism for prod ncing ordinary characters, a tape-guiding device and means for movingthe same sidewise relatively to said controlling devices, a tape-feeding device, means under the control of the tape for causing said feeding device to move the tape forward in an intermittent manner to extents depending upon the length of the successive letters in the tape, and a shutter carried by said tape-guiding device on the side next the controlling devices and arranged to be moved backward at each operation of the apparatus to an extent corresponding to the length of the letter to be reproduced and cover the portion of tape containing the next succeeding letter.

19. in apparatus for reproducing or translating into ordinary characters, information that is in the form of perforations in a tape, the combination of a series of controlling devices arranged side by side and adapted to control the action ofmechanism for producing ordinary characters, a series of selectorbars, a tape-guiding device arranged between the inner ends of the controlling devices and selector-bars and having perforations in its sides, the inner ends of the controlling devices and selector-bars and the holes in the tape- IIO IIS

guiding device corresponding in position to the possible position in the tape of perforations to represent any letter to be translated, a feed-wheel adapted to engage the tape, a clutch device for moving said feed-wheel in a forward direction, a support for said selectorbars, means for holding the selectorbars in their normal and inoperative position, but adapted to allow of their being moved by blank portions of tape into the operative position, a series of stops normally held in the inoperative position by the selectorbars, means for moving each stop into an operative position across a guideway in said support when the corresponding selector bars are moved into the operative position, an exploring-bar arranged to work in said guideway and to be arrested by one or other of said stops, feeding mechanism connected to said clutch and exploring-bar, driving mechanism for moving said feeding mechanism with clutch and exploring-bar alternately in opposite directions, and means for enabling the motion of said feeding mechanism and attached parts to be arrested on the backward motion before the driving means has completed its motion in the same direction.

20. In apparatus for reproducing or translating into ordinary characters, information that is in the form of perforations in a tape, the combination of a series of controlling devices arranged side by side and adapted to control the action of mechanism for producing ordinary"characters, a series of selectorbars arranged in pairs, atape-guiding device arranged longitudinally between the inner ends of the controlling devices and selectorbars and having perforations through its side in which the inner ends of the controlling devices and selector-bars can work, means for moving said tape-guiding device sidewise alternately in opposite directions, a fixed support in which said selector-bars can move endwise, springs acting to normally hold the selector-bars in their inner position, stops arranged to move across a guideway in said support but each normally held in its back or inoperative position by a pair of the selectorbars, springs acting to move said stops across said guideway when released by outward movement of the corresponding pair of selector-bars, a feed-wheel adapted to engage the tape, feeding mechanism for moving said feed-wheel in a forward direction only, an exploring-bar connected to said feeding mechanism and arranged to work in said guideway, driving mechanism adapted to move said feeding mechanism and attached parts in opposite directions, and connecting means arranged between said driving and feeding mechanism and adapted to yield in a backward direction.

21. In apparatus for reproducing or translating into ordinary characters, information that is in the form of perforations in a tape, the combination of a series of controlling devices arranged side by side and adapted to control the action of mechanism for producing ordinary characters,selecting mechanism comprising a series of independently-movable stops, a tape-guiding device and means for reciprocating the same between said controlling devices and selecting mechanism to cause the tape to adjust the position of said devices and mechanism, a feed-wheel adapted to feed the tape forward, a clutch for moving said feed-wheel in a forward direction only, feeding mechanism engaging said clutch, means for moving said feeding mechanism alternately in opposite directions, an exploring device connected to said feeding mechanism and adapted to limit the backward movement of said feeding mechanism under the action of one or other of said stops, and a shutter carried by said tape-guiding device and arranged tobe moved backward to the same extent as the exploring device.

22. In apparatus for reproducing or translating into ordinary characters, information that is in the form of perforations in a tape, the combination with a number of pairs of end wise-movable combs for controlling mechanism for producing ordinary characters, a tape-guiding device, and means for moving the latter toward and from said combs, of selecting mechanism comprising selecting-bars and stops arranged at the opposite side of said tape-guiding device and adapted to be operated by the blank portions of tape representing the space at the end of each letter, a support adapted to carry said selecting mechanism and formed with a guideway at right angles to said stops and across which the stops can move, a shutter mounted to slide in said tape-guiding device on the side thereof next the combs and connected to a rack, a feedwheel adapted to engage the tape, a clutch adapted to rotate said feed-wheel when moved in one direction but to beinoperative thereon when moved in the opposite direction, a toothed wheel connected to said clutch and in gear with said rack, an exploring-bar arranged to work endwise in said guideway and connected to a second rack, a two-armed lever having at its ends toothed segments one of which is in gear with the said toothed wheel and the other with the rack connected to the exploring-ban means for oscillating said lever, driving means, and a connecting device arranged between said oscillating means and driving means and adapted to yield in one direction.

23. In apparatus for reproducing or translating into ordinary characters, information that is in the form of perforations in a tape, the combination with a series of combs for controlling mechanism for producing letters in ordinary characters, a tape-guiding device, means for moving the same toward and from said combs, and a tape-feeding device, of feeding mechanism for actuating said feeding device in one direction, selectormechanism under the control of the tape and whereby the movement of the feeding mechanism can be varied, driving mechanism for moving said feeding mechanism in opposite directions, and a yielding driving device between said feeding mechanism and driving mechanism, said yielding driving device comprisinga spindle adapted to be operated by the driving mechanism, a lever-arm loose on said shaft, a spring connected at one end to said shaft and at the other end tosaid lever-arm, and aspring-blade fixed to said shaft and arranged to act against said lever-arm in an opposite direction to said spring.

21. In apparatus for reproducingor translating into ordinary characters, information that is in the form of perforations in a tape, the combination with a series of combs for controlling mechanism for producing letters inordinary characters, a tape-guiding device, means for moving the same toward and from said combs, and a tape-feeding device, of feeding mechanism for actuating said feeding device in one direction, means for moving said mechanism alternately in opposite directions, an exploring-bar connected to said feeding mechanism, and selecting mechanism under the control of the tape for determining the extent of each backward movement of the feeding mechanism and consequently the extent of the next forward movement of the tape-feeding device, said selecting mechanism comprising a fixed support arranged at the opposite side of the tape-guiding device to that at which the combs are arranged and having a longitudinal guideway 17 therein and also shoulders or abutments thereon, a numberof pairs of selector-bars 22 arranged to slide end wise in said support at right angles to said guideway and having pointed inner ends arranged to be acted upon by blank portions of tape when the same are moved toward them and be thereby moved in an outward direction and notched outer ends having inwardlyturned projections 21, a series of stops 1 mounted to slide in said supportand across the guideway therein, each stop being provided at its inner end with projections 25 normally ongaged with the projections 2-1 on the corresponding pair of selector-bars, springs arranged normally to hold each selector-bar separately in its inward position against the shoulder or abutment on said support, and other springs each adapted to move one of said stops across the guideway when the corresponding pair of selector-bars are moved outward by the tape.

ln apparatus for reproducing or trans lating into ordinary characters, information that is in the form of perforations in a tape, the combination with a series of combs for controlling mechanism for producing letters in ordinary characters, a tape-guiding device, means for moving the same toward and from said combs, and a tape-feeding device, of a series of adjustable stops, stop-selecting mechanism under the control of the tape, an exploring-bar 1 connected to a rack 15 and the movement of which in a backward direction is limited by one or other of said stops, a spindle carrying a feed-wheel n and a ratchetwheel 12, a toothed wheel 11 mounted to rotate about said spindle and carrying a pawl in engagement with said ratchet-wheel, a lever o having toothed segments and 1'-1 in gear respectively with the toothed wheel 11 and the rack 15, a toothed wheel 1 fixed to said lover, a reciprocatory rack 1 in gear with the wheel 7/, a spindle 1, a lever-arm 2 free to turn on this spindle and connected to said rack 1, a lever-arm fixed to said spindle 4:, a rotary cam 6 arranged to oscillate said leverarm 5, a coiled spring connected at one end to said spindle 1 and at the other end to said lever-arm 2, and a spring-ldatle 8 fixed at one end to said spindle and arranged to act at its other end against a lateral pin 9 fixed to the lever-arm 2.

26. In apparatus for reproducing or translating into ordinary characters, information that is in the form of perforations in a tape, the combination with a series of combs for controlling mechanism for producing letters in ordinary characters, a tape-guidingdevice, means for moving the same toward and from said combs, and a tape-feeding device, of a series of adjustable stops, stop-selecting mechanism under the control of the tape, an exploring-bar 11 connected to a rack 15 and the movement of which in a backward direction is limited by one or other of said stops, a spindle carrying a feed-wheel 7/ and a ratchetwheel 12, a toothed wheel 11 mounted to rotate about said spindle and carrying a pawl in engagement with said ratchet-wheel, a lever o p having toothed segments 10 and L1 in gear respectively with the toothed wheel 11 and the rack 15, a shutter mounted to slide endwise in the tape-guiding device, a rack 31, in gear with said wheel 11, a spring-blade 31 connecting said shutter to the rack 31, a toothed wheel 7/ fixed to said lover, a rack 1 in gear with said wheel '11, driving mechanism having a yielding action in one direction for reciprocatingsaid rack 1, and stops 36 and 37 for limiting the motion of said lever o p and rack 31 in a forward direction.

Signed at (Jrlasgow, Scotland, this 26th day of September, 1903.

FEEDER 10K EORU E CREE D.

\Vitnesses:

.JOuN \VM. COLL,

ROBERT A. 'lnonsox.

IIO 

